OpenAnyFile
What is a .afm file?
Adobe Font Metrics is a font format developed by Adobe, first released in 1989. It is usually created by Type 1 font packages, LaTeX.
Plain-text glyph widths and kerning pairs for a Type 1 font — no outlines.
File details
| Full name | Adobe Font Metrics |
|---|---|
| Category | Fonts |
| MIME type | application/x-font-afm |
| Signature (magic bytes) | 53 74 61 72 74 46 6F 6E 74 4D 65 74 72 69 63 73 (StartFontMetrics) |
| Developer | Adobe |
| Introduced | 1989 |
| Opens with | Text reader |
| Uploaded? | No — read locally in your browser |
How to open a .afm file
OpenAnyFile routes .afm files to its text reader, which shows the full text.
- Drop your .afm file on the box above, click it to choose the file, or paste it with Ctrl+V.
- The real format is detected from the file's first bytes — not just its name.
- The file opens in the text reader.
- Use fullscreen for a closer look, check its checksums, or download it back unchanged.
What works — and what does not
Works
Viewing and inspecting: the full text. Size, type, signature and checksums are always shown.
Does not work
Editing and saving back. OpenAnyFile is a viewer, not an editor — for changes you still need the original app.
Is it safe to open a .afm file online?
Here, yes — because nothing is uploaded. Most "online viewers" send your file to their server. OpenAnyFile reads it with your browser's File API and decodes it on your own device, so there is no copy anywhere else. You can check: open your browser's network tab while opening a file — no upload appears.
Questions about .afm files
Can I open a .afm file without installing software?
Yes. OpenAnyFile opens .afm files in your browser using its text reader. You get the full text, with nothing installed and no account.
How do I know a file is really a .afm file?
Check its first bytes instead of its name. A genuine AFM file begins with 53 74 61 72 74 46 6F 6E 74 4D 65 74 72 69 63 73 (StartFontMetrics). OpenAnyFile shows the detected type, so a renamed file is easy to spot.
Is my .afm file uploaded anywhere?
No. The file is read locally by your browser and never sent to a server — it even works offline once the page has loaded.
Does it work on phones?
Yes — on Android and iPhone, in any modern browser. You can also install OpenAnyFile as an app.
Related formats
Other formats from the same family:
Format facts checked and page updated on September 25, 2026.